Minorities miffed with loan scheme process

But the scheme came up with certain revised guidelines which irked the public, namely change in the age bar from 18-55 to 21-40.

“This year I thought of applying for a loan for running my fruit shop. But I was disappointed when I realised that I was not eligible. Unfortunately this change had to happen this year,” said 43-year-old Mushtaq Ahmed.

It was not just the age bar. The authorities did not extend the deadline of January 31 for submitting the applications. As a result, hundreds of poor people were left disappointed, without their problems being redressed.

The application required people to submit forms at the Wakf Board office with relevant caste and income certificates, authorised by the mandal office. But the notice was too short for people to make the necessary arrangements. A request to extend the deadline by at least three more weeks was declined too.

“I run a small footwear shop near Doodh Bowli. When I got to know about the notification for applications, I felt so happy. But due to delay in getting the required documents, I could not avail it. Had I got it, it would have helped me invest some money for my children’s education,” said Mohd. Ghouse.

In all, around 7,000 applications were submitted from all the 23 districts of the state. Of these, a few are likely to be shortlisted depending on the need and the assessment of the credentials. Those final candidates would then be intimated. Incidentally, at the Haj House on Friday close to 1,000 applications got rejected.

“This scheme is an open fraud. If the government introduced it for the welfare of the economically weaker sections of the society, it should have responded to the requests and protests and tackled the problem in a way that would have fulfilled the purpose of the scheme. But no efforts were taken,” alleged Hamed Hussain Jaffery, president, AP Shiya Youth Conference.